Not entirely sure this post title is grammatically correct, or makes sense, but we’re running with it. The intent is to have a quick squiz in the rear vision mirror to extract a couple of things that help shape 2021 to be smarter, better, faster, sexier, funner (also not a word!), and a step up on 2020. Surely that’s not hard to do though right? But let’s step across into this New Year and make it intentional.
 
A discipline I’ve loved and get a lot of benefit from using when I finish any kind of project is a Post Implementation Review. There are so many ways to do that, but the one I prefer is quick and easy, and helps you know what to change, leave behind, bank as a lesson, or what you’d do differently with the benefit of hindsight.
 
So here it is – use it to review 2020, a big personal project you’ve completed, a work focus area you're now completing, a creative pursuit or fitness challenge you've done, hell, even use it to review and improve on the last guy you dated (for some of us, this is the easy part to upgrade!). Whatever the area, if there's a line in the sand and you're moving forward, this tool and discipline is a good way to capture some gems while things are still fresh in your mind. So let's do it for 2020! 
 
Post Implementation Review Quadrant
 
Grab a piece of paper (or create a doc), and draw a 2 x 2 grid (or four squares), label them one by one as follows …. KEEP, CHUCK, CHANGE, ADD.
 
Then add in the deets:
 
Keep – what are the elements that were valuable, that on reflection you would absolutely do again as they enhanced the project or added value?
 
Chuck – the list of things that didn’t work, took valuable time or energy and didn’t ‘make the boat go faster’? The time-wasting parts, the energy-suckers, all the parts that were ‘nice to have’ but weren’t materially impactful.
 
Change  - fine tuning. What was ‘almost’ a good part, or made a little contribution that with some adjusting could have been done better?
 
Add – what was missing? How could you have added in some things, people or processes that might have made things work out even better or would be good to have in the mix for next time?
 
There you go, done!

​It’s a great way to take forward the good bits, grab some lessons learned, and close out and leave behind what doesn’t work for you. Now onwards with the day dreaming, goal setting and laughter, all ready for a stellar year in 2021.

If you’re in the market for a new job, a new offer to wave in front of the boss’ nose, or genuinely wanting to test the waters – it’s worth knowing a few things about the job market, and what you can do to get noticed by the right people.
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Firstly, about 80% of available jobs are never advertised – most roles are filled from referrals, recruiter database scans, and digital talent hunts using Linkedin. US stats show that around 93% of companies use LinkedIn for recruiting
 
Someone at the Auckland based company Consult Recruitment did their Masters thesis on LinkedIn’s role in recruitment and selection procedures (it says ‘default admin’ but I’m sure it’s a real person). They found that in New Zealand, around 70% of recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to source top talent. For many, it’s their first (and increasingly only) port of call, after their own database.
They also point out that this is 70% of hiring managers and recruiters across ALL sectors - from unskilled labour right through to executive level.
 
They also drive home a very good point … if recruiters can’t find you, then you have just missed out on a new opportunity.

Yes, being on LinkedIn is one thing. A very important thing. Being on there with a strong profile that reflects the role you’re looking to get, is just as important!
 
Here’s the detailed overview from LinkedIn on how to do it.

But it’s way nicer to watch the vid from Millenial LinkedIn expert Michaela Alexis:

Your turn, switch the 'knowing' into 'doing' ... 

1. Get yo'self on LinkedIn
2. Update your profile to suit their algorithm in 2020 (see the two links above on 
3. Updated it as you gain new skills or want to move into new areas
4. Be active on there – genuinely so though, like, follow and comment on things connected with your career goals

We all know we’re in the midst of a rapidly changing global economy, and digital landscape. Increasing digital inclusion in a constantly changing environment is tough! A New Zealand Government report “Digital New Zealanders: The Pulse of Our Nation” shows that while an average of 15% of families across the country are without internet access, most of them are packed into low socioeconomic areas.  And by the end of 2022, 87% of Kiwis should have access to ultra-fast broadband (UFB), putting New Zealand among the top five OECD countries for the proportion of the population with access.
 
Worldwide, 71% of 15-24 year olds are online. OECD data shows adults without information and communications technology (ICT) experience, even if employed, are likely to earn less than those with ICT skills.
 
We know that there’s paid growth in new digital jobs and these can be accessed and delivered remotely with access to good internet and the capability to do so.
 
While it seems the overarching infrastructure is well underway, access is only one indicator of digital inclusion, people must also have the motivation, skills, and confidence to go online.
 
Napoleon Hill was said to have come up with the phrase:

Women hate negotiating! This has been proven now in a number of studies. Babcock and Laschever’s research in their book "Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide" shows that

2.5 times more women than men said they feel "a great deal of apprehension" about negotiating
Men initiate negotiations about four times as often as women 
When asked to pick metaphors for the process of negotiating, men picked "winning a ballgame" (they’re American, it would be the same as winning a soccer or rugby game) and a "wrestling match," (what is the Kiwi or Aussie equivalent of wrestling? Cricket? Surfing? Bowls?) while women picked "going to the dentist." - that's universal, no-one sees that as a good way to spend an hour, ever.

Winning a game or an hour or more of pain .. you can see why men and women approach negotiation differently when that's the expectation and usually, the past experience too.

Why it matters?

Firstly – everyone deserves to get paid a fair wage for a good day’s work. It’s up to you to ensure you receive this. Your value and your contribution is important. You are a contributor to the workplace, your home, the community and the economy and having a salary that reflects your employment output is a key part of enabling you to deliver your best contribution and grow day after day.

It’s not just you. We all need to get better at this, teach this skill, pay it forward, coach others, share stories, learn the lessons from when it goes well and when it doesn’t. We should talk about it more and collectively, build capability.

Emily Amanatullah, the Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Texas completed a research study too, hers asks men and women to negotiate for themselves, and on behalf of another person. Her findings showed that when the women negotiated for themselves, they asked for an average of $7,000 less than the men, yet when they negotiated on behalf of a friend, they asked for just as much money as the men.

Next time you're in there asking for what you are worth, imagine you're bestie's in there with you and you're asking for her. Bank that $7K - you deserve it!

Keep an eye out here as next month we will publish a 'how to' guide for negotiating your salary. 

The gender pay gap is the difference between male and female earnings expressed as a percentage of male earnings, according to the OECD. Fawcett Society has calculated this and sets  the date as 9 November ... meaning that after this date, women are effectively working for FREE.  

There are many factors contributing to this. An area I believe has a huge impact, is that of salary negotiation. "We only get paid what we negotiate - NOT what we are worth" (quote credited to my dear friend Brad Lange, Australia).  Research shows that negotation is an area women would benefit from increased capability and confidence with. I'm working on a whole chapter of the book to help break this down, demistify negotiation, and make it really easy to work through. Don't wait for me though - get out there and ask for what you're worth! (or email me if you want a hand to do so).

This quote from Lottie O’Conor​ sums it up well ....